1. Measurement 1.2 Please Do Now
Section
Measurement
1.2
Please Do Now
With your lab group, accurately and precisely measure and record the length, width, and thickness of your Physics textbook.
Calculate and record the volume of the book. Include proper units and the correct amount of decimal places.
Record your answers on the board.

2. Section
1.2
Measurement

3. Measurement 1.2 In this section you will:
Distinguish between accuracy and precision.
Determine the precision of measured quantities.
Understand the use of error bars in analyzing data.
Learn how to calculate percent error and percent deviation.
Understand that “sources of error” is different from making errors.

4. Measurement 1.2 What is a Measurement?
Section
Measurement
1.2
What is a Measurement?
A measurement is a comparison between an unknown quantity and a standard.
Measurements quantify observations.
Careful measurements enable you to derive the relation between any two quantities.

5. Measurement 1.2 Comparing Results
Section
Measurement
1.2
Comparing Results
When a measurement is made, the results often are reported with an uncertainty.
Therefore, before fully accepting a new data, other scientists examine the experiment, looking for possible sources of errors, and try to reproduce the results.
A new measurement that is within the margin of uncertainty confirms the old measurement.

6. Measurements by Three Students
Section
Measurement
1.2
Measurements by Three Students

7. Measurement 1.2 Precision vs. Accuracy
Section
Measurement
1.2
Precision vs. Accuracy
precision – a characteristic of a measured value describing the degree of exactness of a measurement.
- The number of decimal places indicates the precision of a measurement.
- The grouping of data also indicates precision. A tight grouping has high precision.
accuracy – a characteristic of a measured value that describes how well the results of a measurement agree with the “real” value, which is the accepted value.

8. Click image to view the movie.
Section
Measurement
1.2
Precision Versus Accuracy
Click image to view the movie.

9. Section
Measurement
1.2

10. Measurement 1.2 Calculating Accuracy and Precision
Section
Measurement
1.2
Calculating Accuracy and Precision
Percent error is used to determine accuracy, or the variation of a measurement compared to a known value.
Percent error = |measured value – accepted value | × 100%
accepted value
Example: The accepted value for the acceleration due to gravity is m/s2. The experimental results on the first trial was
8.50 m/s2. What was the percent error?
8.50 m/s2 – 9.80 m/s2 x 100% = 13.3%
9.80 m/s2

11. Measurement 1.2 Calculating Accuracy and Precision
Section
Measurement
1.2
Calculating Accuracy and Precision
Percent deviation is used to determine precision, or a measure of the difference between a single measurement and the average of all measurements.
◦ Percent deviation can be an indicator of how carefully you have taken and recorded your measurements.
Percent deviation = | measured value – average value | × 100%
average value

12. Measurement 1.2 Techniques of Good Measurement
Section
Measurement
1.2
Techniques of Good Measurement
To assure precision and accuracy, instruments used to make measurements need to be used correctly.
This is important because one common source of error comes from the angle at which an instrument is read.
The precision of a measurement is one-half of the smallest division of the instrument. Read to the line and guess the last digit.

13. Measurement 1.2 Sources of Error
Section
Measurement
1.2
Sources of Error
A source of error is any factor that may affect the outcome of an experiment.
An “error” to a scientist does not mean “mistake”; it more closely means “uncertainty”.
When explaining sources of error in your experiment, do not list “human error”. This term is vague and lazy. Instead, think about specific things that happened during the experiment where the results may have been affected.
Example: Suppose you where measuring the acceleration due to gravity of a falling object. Air resistance introduces error in your calculations.

14. Measurement 1.2 Sources of Error – More Examples
Section
Measurement
1.2
Sources of Error – More Examples
When measuring the magnetic field of a small magnet, you may need to account for the Earth’s magnetic field.
A draft may affect the fall of your paper helicopter.
The temperature of the room may rise during an experiment due to hot plates, climate, body heat.
Sources of Error – Non-Examples
I misread the ruler (or scale, or graduated cylinder, etc.)
I miscalculated. (Check your work; then have a lab partner check it.)
Human error. (Never list this in your lab report !!)

15. Section Check 1.2 Question 1
Ronald, Kevin, and Paul perform an experiment to determine the value of acceleration due to gravity on the Earth (980 cm/s2). The following results were obtained: Ronald ± 12 cm/s2, Kevin ± 8 cm/s2, and Paul ± 4 cm/s2. Justify who gets the most accurate and precise value.
Kevin got the most precise and accurate value.
Ronald’s value is the most accurate, while Kevin’s value is the most precise.
Ronald’s value is the most accurate, while Paul’s value is the most precise.
Paul’s value is the most accurate, while Ronald’s value is the most precise.

16. Section Check 1.2 Answer 1 Answer: C
Reason: Ronald’s answer is closest to 980 cm/s2 and hence his result is the most accurate. Paul’s measurement is the most precise within 4 cm/s2.

17. Section Check 1.2 Question 2 What is the precision of an instrument?
The smallest division of an instrument.
The least count of an instrument.
One-half of the least count of an instrument.
One-half of the smallest division of an instrument.

18. Section Check 1.2 Answer 2 Answer: D
Reason: Precision depends on the instrument and the technique used to make the measurement. Generally, the device with the finest division on its scale produces the most precise measurement. The precision of a measurement is one-half of the smallest division of the instrument.

19. Section Check 1.2 Question 3
A 100-cm long rope was measured with three different scales. The answer obtained with the three scales were:
1st scale - 99 ± 0.5 cm, 2nd scale - 98 ± 0.25 cm, and 3rd scale - 99 ± 1 cm. Which scale has the best precision?
1st scale
2nd scale
3rd scale
Both scale 1 and 3

20. Section Check 1.2 Answer 3 Answer: B
Reason: Precision depends on the instrument. The measurement of the 2nd scale is the most precise within 0.25 cm.

21. Section Check 1.2 Question 4
Which of the following could be considered a legitimate source of error in your lab?
The wheels on the cart wobbled a bit, which slowed it down.
It was hard to get an exact reading from the spring scale because my hand shook.
The thermometer may have not yet reached thermal equilibrium.
All of them

22. Section Check 1.2 Answer 4 Answer: D
Reason: Remember, “error” is not errors that you made in lab. It is the unwanted factors make your results different from the expected results. It is why your experiment will not exactly match the formula.

23. Bulls-eye Lab Activity
Section
1.2
Bulls-eye Lab Activity
Name:_______________________________________ Date:____________ Period:_______
c = 4.31cm d = cm c d